Ordnance



June l1, 1946. J. c. 1am-.TER ET AL ORDNANCE Filed Oct. 15,'1942 4 SheetsSheet 1 June u i946. J. c. 'rRoTTER ETAL 2,40i,&9

lORDNANCE Filed oct. 15, 1942 4 sheets-sheet 2 I F/@Z June 1l, 16. J. c. TRo'rTl-:R ET AL ORDNANCE Filed oct. 15, 1942 4 sheets-sheet 4 f .Ulllll lhollowed hub of the propeller.

Patented June 11, 1946 ORDNANCE John C. Trotter, Williamsville, Leonard W. Holland, Kenmore, and Gerard E. Schult-z, Bualo, N. Y., assignors to Bell Aircraft Corporation,

Buialo, N. Y.

Application October 15, 1942, Serial No. 462,108

8 Claims.

This invention relates to ordnance, and more particularly to ammunion magazine and ejected ammunition parts conveying means for use in conjunction with combat aircraft. The invention is specifically concerned with the problem of feeding ammunition to a relatively heavy rapid fire gun, such as an aerial cannon, or the like, which is fixed upon an aircraft fuselage or nacelle to fire along the approximate longitudinal center line thereof vand to be disposed in close proximity to the aircraft propulsion mechanism such as the propeller drive shaft, or the like.

It is generally known that a particularly effective type of lighter airplane comprises a fuselage arrangement of streamline cigar-like form having a tractor propeller mounted at the nose thereof and concentric with the approximate longitudinal center line thereof, and mounting a cannon in such manner as to fire through the In such case the propeller is driven through means of a gear arrangement connected to an engine driven shaft which lies parallel to and slightly below the coinciding propeller rotation axis and cannon barrel axis. Thus, the cannon is mounted within the fuselage at approximately the center of the nose portion thereof while the engine drive shaft is disposed at a position therebelow and closely parallel to the cannon, regardless of whether the aircraft engine is mounted in closely coupled relation within the fuselage nose or at the end of an extended drive shaft reaching back into the region of the longitudinal mid-section of the aircraft fuselage.

In any case the aircraft propeller drive mechanism is thereby disposed immediately below the cannon referred to, and prior art arrangements of this type of combat aircraft have involved certain functional disadvantages and objections because of the arrangements provided incidental thereto for conveying the cannon ejected ammunition cases around the closely proximate propeller drive mechanism. It is known, for example,

it has been customary to form the empty case ejection chute leading from the cannon so as to curve away from the initial downward direction of case ejection movement; rst laterally, and then downwardly again, in reversed or S curve form. Due to the fact that the cannon and the propeller drive means to be avoided are in relatively close proximity to one another, the degrees of curvatures referred to must in such instance be extremely sharp; and great difficulty has been experienced in connection with operation of such prior art arrangements due to the tendencies of the ejected ammunition cases to jam at the curved portions of the case ejection chute and to rebound from such curved surfaces when impinging thereagainst so as to oppose ejection movements of following cartridge cases, whereby proper functioning of the cannon mechanism is prevented.

The primary object of the present invention is to avoid the difficulties and disadvantages referred to hereinabove by providing a novel and improved gun mounting arrangement whereby the ejected ammunitio-n part conveying chute means may be constructed of simplified form and to be inherently free from the jamming and function-interfering tendencies referred to. Another object of the invention is to provide in conjunction with the improved gun mount arrangement referred to a novel and improved form of ammunition storing and feeding magazine which is adapted to be mounted in conjunction with the cannon and to nest within the contours of an otherwise ideally shaped nacelle nose portion in improved manner. Another object of the invention is to provide a novel magazine of the character described which is of structurally improved form and adapted to be serviced in improved manner. Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the specification hereinafter.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an end elevation of a cannon and magazine arrangement of the invention illustrated in conjunction with the nose portion of a typical nose cannon carrying fighter airplane and in the region of the airplane propeller drive shaft;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the magazine of Fig. 1, on an enlarged scale, with the ammunition carrier thereof shown in section;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of a portion of the magazine structure of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section, on an enlarged scale, taken along line IV.-IV of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view, partlyv in elevation and partly in section, of the ammunition carrier device thereof;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan of a joint portion of the device of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary side elevation of the airplane of Fig. 1 showing the cannon and magazine arrangement thereof.

The drawings illustrate the invention in conjunction with an airplane fuselage or nacelle of typical cigar-like form having a nose portion covered by a skin structure of oval sectional form as indicated at Ill. The airplane mounts a tractor propeller having a hollow hub II (Fig. 7) andY out requiring the use of any gun-propeller synchronizing mechanism, as is well understood in the art. The propeller drive shaft'is indicated at I5 as being disposed in the vertical plane of symmetry of the airplane nacelle I and at a position Y,slightly below the cannonv I2; and at its forward end the drive shaft I5 connects with the propeller through means of any suitable gearing mechanism indicated at I6 and extends rearwardly into driving connection with the crank shaft of the airplane engine through any suitable intermediate coupling devices (not shown).

Thus, it will be understood that the 'airplane fuselage I!) may be shaped of ideally streamlined form and of ovate sectional contour. as shown, whereby the relatively bulky engine mechanism thereof may be most effectively accommodated within the fuselage at the region of greatest sectional dimensions thereof while permitting the ractor propeller to be mounted at the tip of the fuselage nose at approximately the geometric center of the fuselage section for optimum aerodynamic performance. Because of the offset position of the drive shaft I5, the cannon I2 mayl be readily positioned coaxially with the propeller hub without interfering with the propeller driv- 7 ing mechanism, while the space within the fuselage above the cannon may be utilized for accommodation of the cannon feeding ammunition magazine. As indicated at I'I-I1, the vspaces within the aircraft fuselage to either side of the propeller Vdrive shaft I5 'are invariably required to be occupied by functional elements of the aircraft.

As indicated generally at 2Q an ammunition magazine comprising essentially a cartridge-carrying track of semicylindrical sectional form is arranged to have its opposite converging lower end portions disposed in registry with the ammunition feedway portion 22 of the gun, and to be so shaped asto extend laterally therefrom in opposite directions'toward the sides of the airplane fuselage and thence in converging looping directions upwardly and over so as to conform closely to the inner wall of the fuselage skin. Thus, the magazine provides a continuous circular passagewayV for ammunition which is in open communication with the ammunition feedway of the gun. Due to the sectionally curved form of the fuselageA structure, the upp'er section of the magazine trackway' is permitted to curve i'nto'close 4 conformity with the adjacent portion of the fuselage skin without requiring sharp changes in direction of ammunition movements through the magazine; and a circular type ammunition magazine of maximum capacity and otherwise improved form is thereby provided. As will be explained more fully hereinafter, an vammunition carrier is arranged in conjunction with the magazine trackway to interconnect the rammunition 10` rounds of the magazine, and thus the magazine is adapted to be initially loaded with ammunition rounds as indicated at 24 for successive feeding to the cannon charging mechanism upon simple revolution ofthe ammunition train about the magazine trackway toward the position of the gun ammunition feedway. As the gun fires successive rounds of ammunition the ammunition feed pawl mechanism of the gun (not shown) motivates succeeding ammunition rounds from the magazine into the charging breech of the gun; l

and the carrier is thereby automatically moved soas to insure pro-per feeding of a successive round from the magazine as each preceding round is fired. Special provisions are made for facilitating loading of the magazine with fresh ammunition and servicing of the magazine and replacement of the gun-magazine unit under warfare service conditions, as will also be ex-V plained more fully hereinafter.

The gun I2 is illustrated (Fig. l) as having the customary empty case ejection port as indicated at 25 directed through the bottom wall of the gun casing and in a direction normal thereto; and it will be understood that as the gun fires the empty cases of the ammunition rounds 24 will tumble downwardly out of the port 26, as indicated at 28. Y

To guide the empty cases 28 as they issue from the'cannon so as to prevent interferences thereby with other functioning parts of the airplane, a chute 3e (Fig. l) is provided to engage at its upper end in open communication With ,the case ejection `port 25 of the gun and to discharge the empty cases 28 through a suitably apertured portion of the fuselage skin, as indicated at 32. Or, in the alternative, a suitable container may be arranged within the belly of the fuselage to receive the ejected'ammunition cases as they issue from the chute 3i).

To facilitate passage of the ejected cases from the gun I 2 through the chute 38, the gun is mounted upon the airplane in novel manner and the chute 30 is formed of novel configuration. To this end the Agun I2 is mounted upon the fuselage In so that the vertical axes of the gun and the fuselage diverge at Va substantial angle, say 8 to 10 degrees, such as is indicated at in Fig. 1. In other words, Vthe gun is displaced angularly about its longitudinal axis from normal position. Thus, the empty case ejection port of the gun will be canted in a direction having a substantial horizontal component whereby the emptyV cases will be initially propelled from the gun toward one side of the propeller drive shaft I5. Hence, the chute 30 maybe formed as illustrated in Fig. 1 to include only one relatively large radius bend at a position immediatel'y adjacent the drive shaft I5, to accommodate free passage of the ejected cases from the cannon and past the drive shaft to one side thereof and thence downwardly to the case discharge position.

As explained hereinabove, the airplane fuselage usually includes structural and functional elements inthe regions indicated at Y I-l-Il,

whereby it is undesirable to direct the empty case chute 30 laterally therethrough. In other cases,` the Achute 3!) could be of completely straight line form in View of the novel arrangement of the cannon I2; and the empty cases would be thereby'drected to tumble freely away from the gun and to one side of the drive shaft I to the chute discharge position. In any case, it will be understood that by reason of the novel gun mounting arrangement the case discharge chute 3U may be so formed as to avoid the remotest possibilitiesofinterference with smooth ow of cases from the cannon, whereby optimim functioning of the Y'gun will be assured. As indicated at 38 (Figfl) the portion of the chute between the positions of the drive shaft I5 and the case ejection port 25 of the gun will be preferably smoothly funneled to connect the relatively wide mouth of the empty case ejection port of the gun to the sectionally constricted lower portion of the chute 30. By reason of such arrangement the empty cases will be smoothly fed into the constricted lower portion of the chute 30, and the latter may be formed of a sectional thickness only slightly greater than the largest diameter measurement of the ammunition cases being handled, whereby the chute 3i)l will be tailored to its minimum practical thickness for space-saving purposes while being adapted to accommodate the empty cases in jam-free sliding relation.

To feed the gun I2 with ammunition rounds, the magazine 20 is provided to comprise an ammunition trackway which when assembled in conjunction with the gun comprises a continuous trackway integral with the gun and looping thereabove. To facilitate assembly and servicing of the magazine-gun unit the trackway comprises a pair of sections disposed at each side of the gun and detachably joined together at their top ends when in assembled relation. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the left-hand section of the trackway of Fig. l looking inwardly of the fuselage from externally thereof. This section comprises generally a pair of arcuately shaped front and rear rails lill-42, respectively, which are mountedin parallel spaced relation by means of a series of spacer tie rods 43. As illustrated in detail in Fig. 3, the tie rods 43 are formed to abut between the rails 40--42 and to be firmly connected thereto by means of cap screws 54. The rails IIB-42. are of flanged formation so as to provide simultaneously bottom track portions 45-46 and guiding end wall portions l1- 48 (Fig. 2); and the opposed end wall portions 41-48 are so relatively spaced as to be adapted to maintain the ammunition rounds against axial Idisplacement from the magazine trackway while permitting the ammunition rounds to freely slide in side-by-side relation upon the bottom rail portions 45-45 of the trackway. The right-hand section of the trackway is of generally identical construction in that it comprises opposed flanged rails. 50-50 which correspond to the rail members I0-42 hereinabove described, and it will be understood that the rails 50-50 will be interconnected by means of spacers which are similar to the spacers 43 of Fig. 2 and connected thereto by means of cap screws 53 (Fig. 1).

Because of the canted mounting of the gun I2 the trackway sections will necessarily be of somewhat differently curved sectional form, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 1, to the end that their upper opposite formation so as to be adapted to abut one another to provide a continuous ammunition trackway of interiorly uninterrupted form. The rail members of the trackway sections are formed at their upper meeting end portions with paired extending ears which are adapted to overlap when in magazine assembled condition as indicated at 55-55 (Fig. 2) in such manner that their apertured portions register with corresponding slip pins 51--51 carried by bracket portions 58-58 extending from the-rails. A compression spring 59 is mounted in conjunction with each of the pins 51-51 for biasing the latter toward rail interlocking position, and a finger 60 is formed to extend from each of the pins 51-51 so as to be adapted to be manually manipulated to cause the pins to be moved out of locking position against the action of the springs 59. Each bracket 58 is longitudinally slotted to permit the corresponding control nger 60 to protrude therethrough to allow the latter to be manipulated in the pin 60 to be rotated into the locking slot `6I when in pin-retracted position so as to withhold the pin 51 from moving into locking position except when desired. f The trackway sections are arranged to be detachably connected to opposite sides of the gun ammunition feedway portion 22 so as to be adapted to be quickly removable therefrom in connec-l tion with servicing of the magazine-gununit. To this end, the left-hand trackway section is illustrated as carrying by means of paired perforating ears a latch pin 66 which in turn carries a pair of rigidly extending latches 61-61. The latches 61-51 have upwardly turned end portions for latching engagement with complementarily recessed portions of corresponding lug members 10--10 extending from the gun casing portion 22; and the parts are so proportioned and arranged that whenever the lower end of the trackway section is disposed in abutting open communication relation with respect to the ammunition feedway port of the gun casing 22 the pins (i6-56 may be released to move upwardly in response to the action of their compression springs to rmly latch the trackway section to the gun.

The right-hand section of the magazine trackway is illustrated as being detachably connected to the gun casing by means of paired locking pins 15-15 which are carried upon the trackway structure by means of suitable cross bracket elements 16. The pins 15-15 are slidably mounted within suitably bored portions of the bracket 16 and are each backed by means of a compression spring 18 .so as to be normally biased outwardly to engage at their extending end portions Within suitably perforated ears extending from the gun casing 22. Each locking pin 15 carries integrally therewith a laterally extending control finger 82 which protrudes through a suitably slotted portion 83 of the bracket 15, whereby the lingers 82-82 may be simultaneously manually manipulated toward each other against the actions of the springs 18-18 so as to Withdraw the pins 15-15 from engagement with the gun casing, whereupon the trackway section may be readily removed from connection with the gun.

Thus, it will be appreciated that the magazine trackway may be readily assembled or disassembled relative to the gun I2 by simply fitting or unfltting the detachable connection ldevices referred to in the manner described, whereby,

I7 when the device is in assembled position a Vcontinuous ammunition trackway of generally circular sectional form is provided'in open communication with the ammunition feedway portion of the gun casing, and whereby themagazine trackway may be quickly removed from the gun by disconnecting the locking mechanisms at the top of the trackway and at the points of connection with the gun, in the manner described.

To articulate the ammunition charge of the magazine and to hold thev ammunition within the magazine against accidental displacement therefrom, a carrier in the form of an endless chain is threaded about the magazine trackway at its approximate longitudinal mid-section. 'For this purpose the trackway frame mounts a carrier slideway structure which isindicated generally at 90 as comprising a pair of spaced railportions. 92-92 which are supported by the tie rods 43 of the trackway `frame. .The rails 92-92 are outwardly faced to conform to the path of ammunition travel about the trackway structure, and are disposed in parallel spaced relation so as to provide therebetween a slide track for the carrier chain 88. Each of the rails 92-92 is accompaniedby a similarly mounted and closely adjacent" end plate 94,.whereby a pairof opposed abutments are provided to extend atl each side of the carrier track to guide the carrier against lateral displacement from the. slide track.

The carrier 88 comprises Specifically a plurality of base plates 96 which are connected in articulated relation at each juncture between adjacent plates by means of a pair of pins 98 extending through paired registering apertured lug portions 99 of the plates 96 (Fig. 6). The headed end portions of the pins 98-98 are preferably fixed within the corresponding lug portions 99-99 of the carrier plate while the extending end.V portions of said pins are formed to freely slide-iit within the corresponding apertured lugs of the next adjacent plate. Thus, it will be understood that the carrier chain may be readily assembled. or disassembled by simple lateral displacement movements of any one plate member 96 relative to the plate member next adjacent thereto; but that upon nal assembly of the carrier chain and mounting thereof upon the slide track 90 between the end plates 94-94 thereof, lateral displacement of one plate element relative to the next adjacent element will be prevented by thel guide plates 94-04, whereby ace cidental disconnection of. the carrier chain is prevented.

To enable the carrier chain |38r tok be assembled in close tting relation upon the slide track 90 and to facilitate ready disassembly therefrom for servicing purposes, the slide track S is' interrupted at one curved section thereof by means of a hinged track portion which is adapted to be swung inwardly so as to reduce the. minimum perimetral dimension'required to encompass the carrier slide track. Thus, the carrier chain may the slide track, whereby to tauten the carrier'u chain against the slide track in such manner that the slide chain will be engaged between the. end plates 94-94 forV suitable guidingr action` thereby, while the carrier chain is free to slide about the slide track. To this end the track rails are interrupted as indicated Vat |00 (Figs. 2 and 3) and the space therebetween is arranged to be normally occupied by a pair of similarly spaced track portions |02|02 which are pivotally mounted upon one of the tierods 43 by means of a ferrule |04. `At their upper ends the track pieces |02|02 are interconnected Vby means of a sleeve |06. A locking pin |08 is slid.-Y ably carried upon a suitably apertured boss portion ||0 of one of the end plate members 94 so as to be normally in registry with the tubular tie member |06 so as to be insertable therethrcnigh` and into registrywith an opposed suitably apertured portion of the opposite end plate 94 wherebyto lock the upper ends of the rails |02 |02 into Hpositions of smooth continuation with respect to*l the uninterrupted rail portions 92- 92. `A spring` pressed ball is mounted to extend fromY the. locking pin |00 to' provide a spring-latch arrangement relative to the adjacent side plate 94` to'prevent unintended sliding of theA pin |08 relative to the track assembly. A linger ring ||2 is connected to the 'pin |08 to facilitate manualmanipulation of the `latter andv so as to extend in free sliding relation within. a:

keyway ||4 of the pin |08, wherebyaxi'al movements of the pin are limited in each direction.

Hence, it will be understood that when the hinged track portionV |02|02 is in the broken. line position thereof illustrated in Fig. 1,'the carrier chain may be readilyv mounted upon the.v

slide track by laying a train of links thereabout. and. then pulling the opposite. ends thereof together in the manner described hereinabove, whereupon the hinged track section |02|02 may be swung outwardly and locked into its normal position of continuation with the remainder of the track section, whereby the carrier chain will be automatically tautened in proper operating condition and will be thereby retained behind the end Vwall members v94---94 for guiding of the carrier chain and preventing the latter from becoming accidentally` disconnected.

The carrier base plates 9S are each provided with upstanding spring finger devices for resiliently gripping the corresponding ammunition rounds at approximatelyl the position of the 1ongitudinal center of gravity thereof; and the spring iingers-are so provided as to'grip the ammunition rounds suiliciently to prevent accidental displacement of the rounds from the carrier chain but to permit the rounds to be plucked therefrom by the gun ammunition feed pawl mechanism as each successive ammunition round moves into the range thereof. For this purpose each base plate 96 is provided with a U-shaped spring' metal clip device having a' base portion II5 and opposite upstanding finger portions |6|| 6 whichl are slotted as indicated at ||1 to enhance the flexibility of the grip` thereof. The clps are mounted upon the base plates 96,v as being riveted thereto as'indicated at V||18` (Fig. 5), anda cradle device comprising a base portion H9 and opposite upstanding cradle Yend portions i2() is engaged between each base plate element'SB and the corresponding clip elements IIE-l I6. Thus, each base plate of the carrier chain is adapted to hold a corresponding ammunition round by means of the resilient finger `pieces I IS-i IB cooperating with the cradle plate devices lvl-120, and yet it will be understood that the ammunition rounds are at all times free to be plucked away from the carrier chamber by the feed pawl mechanism and the gun as explained hereinabove.

It will be appreciated that the magazine of the invention may be loaded from exteriorly of the airplane by simply removing detachable cover plate portions of the airplane skin in the region of the magazine and then pressing individual ammunition rounds into engagement with the spring finger elements IIB--I I6 of each carrier chain base plate, whereupon the carrier chain may be manually revolved upon the magazine trackway so as to bring the leading ammunition round into connection with the feed pawl mechanismof the cannon. Upon nal filling of the remainder of the carrier chain, as explained hereinabove, and replacement of the cover plates embracing the magazine, the airplane is ready for combat duty and the cannon may be red at will until the ammunition rounds are ex- Dended. It will be understood that this ammunition feeding operation will be accomplished -by the customary feed pawl mechanism of the gun proper which forms no part of the present invention but which operates to draw successively presented ammunition rounds into the breech charging mechanism of the gun; and that the carrier chain 88 operates to cause each fired ammunition round to be immediately followed by a fresh round, until the magazine is empty.

To prevent unintended displacement of ammunition rounds from the bottom strand of the am- 'muniition carrier, as upon bumping of the airplane upon a landing surface or the like, the magazine trackway is preferably provided with a bottom wall portion `as indicated at |25 (Fig. 1). The device 125 will preferably be provided in the form of a cover plate which may be slidably or otherwise inserted upon the magazine trackway at its inner end and detachably connected thereto at its outer end by means of a latch mechanism as indicated at l26. Also, to guide the carrier chain into accurately registering relation with respect to the ammunition feed pawl mechanism of the cannon, it is preferred to provide the magazine trackway lower end portions with parallel spaced guide flanges |28 (Figs. 1 and 4) which are adapted to slidably t the side edges of the carrier chain base plates 95 and to firmly guide them in accurately aligned relation with respect to the gun ammunition feed mechamsm.

Thus, it will be understood that the mechanism of the invention provides a novel and improved gun mount and ammunition magazine and empty case ejection chute arrangement for use in oonjun-ction with a combat-airplane of the type specifled hereinabove, whereby a gun fitted with the devices of the invention and arranged in accord with the princi-ples thereof is enabled to be fed with ammunition in improved manner and to discharge ejected ammunition cases in improved manner. It will-also be appreciated that the mechanism of the invention is particularly adaptedto facilitate the problems of servicing the gun and the magazine, and that it is also of simple and otherwise structurally improved form.

We claim: v

1. An ammunition magazine for attachment `to the feed mechanism of an automatic gun` for firing cartridges of longitudinally tapered form, comprising a trackway of generally circular sectional form consisting of a pair 'of opposed flanged rail structures for engaging said cartridges at opposite ends thereof when disposed uponysaid' trackway in transverse side-by-side, relation, a second trackway disposed intermediately of said flanged rail structures and substantially paralleling the profile thereof, said second trackway including a wail structure and laterally extending end plate structures adjacent opposite sides of said wall structure, an ammunition carrier disposed to slidably encompass said wall structure and to be guided thereon by said end plate structure in registry with predetermined portions of said cartridges, said carrier comprising a series of links having opposed finger portions extending therefrom to grip at opposite sides ulpon corresponding of said cartridges when disposed in sideby-side relation upon said first mentioned trackway whereby said carrier is adapted to articulate the magazine ammunition load, said wall structure having a curved portion thereof hingedly connected to the other portion thereof and adapted to be swung inwardly about the hinged connection to shorten the perimetral distance about said wall structure, said links having at their opposite corresponding ends longitudinally Y.extending registering eye devices and later-ally extending pin devices for hingetype connections therebetween, whereby said carrier may be assembled and disassembled relative` to said second trackway by climbing it over said end plate structures and laterally displacing connecting eye and pin devicesthereof.

2. In combination, aocornbat aircraft body having a wall of curvilinear'vertical transverse sectional form, a gun having an ammunition feedway portion, said gun being viixedly mounted within said aircraft body and aiming substantially longitudinally of said aircraft body and being tilted about the gun longitudinal axis `to lean away from strictly upright attitude, an ammunition magazine 'for said gun of generally ovate annular sectional form being cut away at a portion thereof and mounted to register at op'- Iposite sides thereof in open communication with the ammunition feedway portion of'said gun and extending therefrom in looped form adjacent the curvilinear wall of said aircraft bo'dy portion, and endless belt means mounted within said magazine adapted to engage the ammunition thereof in articulated relation for actuating the ammunition contained within said magazine to feed said gun.

3. In combination, a combat airplane including a body portion of curvilinear vertical transverse sectional form and having an engine drive shaft disposed to extend horizontally and longitudinally within said body portion, a gun` mounted within said body portion and disposed to extend substantially longitudinally thereof and above and parallel to said drive shaft and tilted about its longitudinal axis so as to lean away fromfa strictly upright attitude, and an ammunition magazine for said gun of ovate collar form being interrupted at a portion thereof and mounted thereat in open communication with the ammunition feedway portion of said gun at opposite sides thereof and extending therefrom in looped form adjacent the curving wall of said body porposed fianged rail structures forengaging the ammunition .load at opposite .ends of the car-v tridgesthereof'when the latter are disposed upon said trackway in 4transverse side-by-side relation, a second -trackway disposedintermediately of said rflanged rail structures and substantially p-aralleling the prole thereof, said second trackway including a circuitous shaped wall structure and end plates extending adjacent opposite sides `of said Wall structure and radially outwardly therefrom, lan ammunition carrier disposed to j slidably encompass said Ywall structure and to be guided thereon by said end plates in registry with predetermined longitudinally positioned portions of said cartridges, said carrier comprising a series of flexibly connected links having opposed finger portions extending therefrom to grip at opposite sides upon corresponding of said cartridges when disposed in side-b-y-side relation vupon said first mentioned trackway whereby saidr carrier is adapted to articulate the magazine .ammunition load, said second 4trackway wall structure'having a curved portion thereof hinged- 1y connected to the remainder thereof and adapted to be swung inwardly about the hinged connection to Vshorten the perimetral distance about said 4wall structure.

5. An ammunition magazine-for attachment to the feed mechanism of an automatic-gun for firing cartridges of longitudinally tapered form,

rail structure for engaging said cartridges at opposite ends thereof when Adisposed upon said trackvvay in'transverse side-'by-side relation, a second trackwaydisposed intermediately of said anged rail structure yand substantially paralleling the profile thereof, said second trackway including a wall structure and a laterally extending end plate structure at a side of said wall structure, an ammunition carrier disposed to slidably encompass said second trackway wall structure and to rhug the latter and to be .guided .thereon by said end plate structure in Vregistry with Vpredetermined corresponding longitudinal portions of said cartridges, said carrier comprising a belt having opposed finger portions extending therefrom to grip upon corresponding of said cartridges when disposed upon said rst .mentioned trackway whereby said carrier is adapted to articulate the magazine ammunition load, said second trackway wall structure having acurved portion constructed and arranged to be swung inwardly to 4shorten vthe perimetral distance about said wall structure whereby said carriermay be assembled and disassembled relative to .said second trackway by climbing it over said end plate structure whenever said yperimetral distance about said-wall structure is so shortened.

6. An ,ammunition .magazine for Vattachment to the feed mechanism of an automatic gun, said magazine comprising a circular trackway of paired opposed flanged rail structures for engaging ammunition Arounds at opposite ends thereof Vwhen .disposed .upon .said trackway in transverse Ysaid magazine comprising a trackway offgeneral- Y ly circular sectional form consisting of a flanged .side-.by-side relation, .a second trackway disposed intermediately of said fiangedlrailfstructuresiand formed to substantially .parallel the profiles thereof, said second trackway including asectionally curved wall structure and radially extendingend'pla'tes at opposite sides of said Wall vstructure, an ammunition carrier disposed to slidably encompass said wall structure and to 'be .guided thereon by said end plates, said carrier comprising a series of flexibly connected links having finger .portions extending therefrom to engage corresponding rounds of ammunition 4when disposed in side-by-side relation upon said iirst mentioned trackway Avwhereby saidk .carrier is adapted to articulate the magazine ammunition load, said Wall structure having a curved portion thereof-'hingedly connected to other lportions thereof and adapted-to be swung inwardly `about the hinged connection to shorten the perimetral distance about said wall structure.

7. An ammunition magazine for attachment tothe feed mechanism of .an automatic gun which is adapted to receive' articulated ammunition rounds when fed thereto in a laterally directedV path, said magazine comprising a trackway paralleling the path of the ammunition load leading into' the feed mechanism of the gun, guide flanges at lopposite sides 'of saidtrackway, a carrier slidably supported in the trackway and arranged to normally hug the trackway in close fitting relation between said flanges and comprising a series ofv iiexibly connected plate members,Y gripping means extending froml each of'said plate 'members 'for receiving and detachably holding cartridges of said ammunition load, said plate mem- Y bers being formed with complementing hinge piny and eye devices at corresponding opposite ends thereof whereby adjacent of lsaid plate members thereof for carrier assembly and disassembly'purposea-means on said trackway formanual manip- `ulatiori to shrink the perimetral dimension thereof to per-mit said carrier to clear said guide flanges whereby said plate memberssmay be laterally disvplaced'for carrier assembly and disassembly purposes.

8. In combination,V acombat aircraft including a streamlinedbody having a longitudinal streamline axis, an aircraft propeller having a hollow 'hub and mounted at one end of lsaid body to ro- -tate about said axis, a gun xedly mounted within said aircraft body and having the gun barrel thereof extending along said axis and through said hollow propeller hub,V said gun having a gun mechanism casing andan ejected ammunition parts passageway extending therethrough, said gun being canted relative to said aircraft body so as to direct said passageway away from the vertical, said gun mechanism casing portion having an ejected ammunition parts chute device extending therefrom in the same direction of said passageway, a propeller drive shaft mounted :within said aircraft body below the position of said -gun and extending parallel to said vstreamline axis and in the vertical plane thereof at a position offset from the direction of extension of said ejected parts chute,and gear means interconnecting said-drive shaft and said propeller at la position on said aircraft longitudinally offset from the position of said ejected parts chute.

JOHN C. vTROT'I'ER. LEONARD W. HOLLAND. GERARD E. SCHULTZ. 

